Chepstow Racecourse
Wednesday 20th March
10.00am - 3.30pm
In the Wye Valley, Monmouthshire and the Forest of Dean we have some of the finest quality
of walking trails and accommodation in the UK. The Wye Valley Walk, Offa’s Dyke Path
National Trail and the Wales Coast Path all begin here and walkers can find a wide range of
walks from easy access and short themed walks to the more demanding routes.
The purpose of the conference is to look at ways of improving the quality of the walking
experience in the area to make sure it meets the needs of current and future visitors and
residents. This conference is aimed at anyone involved in the development or marketing of
walking in the area.
The Boots and Beds Conference has been organised to help ensure this area capitalises on the full
economic, environmental and social benefits of walking. It is aimed at the following groups of people
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walking groups who are developing and marketing walking routes to locals and visitors
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festival organisers and walking events/ festivals organisers
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accommodation providers and other businesses / individuals interested in accessing the
walking market more effectively, e.g. by upgrading their facilities, or improving the quality of
their walking route information and marketing
•
businesses which provide services to walkers
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businesses who provide innovative solutions to new walking accommodation
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Anyone interested in developing new accommodation for walkers
Places at this conference are free but limited so please book as early as possible by returning the booking
form with your workshop and lunch choices to
RSVP Sharon Seymour, Wye Valley AONB Office, Hadnock Road, Monmouth NP25 3NG or emailing
your form back to office@wyevalleyaonb.org.uk
10.00
Registration and coffee in Silks foyer
10.30
Conference introduction
Ashley Thomas Chairman Wye Valley AONB Joint Advisory Committee
10.45
Keynote Speaker
Andrew Blake - Walking and Tourism in the Wye Valley AONB
11.00
Keynote Speaker
Introduction Matthew Lewis
Steve Green – Walking Product Development Strategy
11.30
Keynote Speaker
Les Lumsdon – Slow Travel and Tourism
12.00
Overlooking the Wye – A Guide to the Heritage of the Wye Valley.
Launch of book published jointly between Wye Valley AONB
and Neil Parkhouse (Black Dwarf Publications)
12.15
Coffee
12.30
Breakout Workshops 1,2 and 3
13.30
Lunch
14.00
Breakout Workshops 4, 5 and 6
15.00
Conference Feedback and evaluation
15.30
Conference ends
12.15 – 13.15 Breakout Workshop Sessions
Workshop 1 - Accommodating Walkers
Leader: Andrew Keeling, Hotel Solutions, Lincoln
Andrew is an independent tourism consultant with specialist knowledge in relation to the walking tourism market and
visitor accommodation development.
This workshop is aimed primarily at accommodation businesses. It will look at:
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The accommodation requirements of different types of walking tourist;
The facilities and services that walkers need from accommodation establishments;
How accommodation businesses can improve the welcome that they provide to walkers;
Ideas for marketing to attract walking tourists;
Opportunities for developing accommodation that will attract the walking market.
This will be an interactive session with opportunities for accommodation businesses to share their experiences of
welcoming walkers and their ideas for meeting their requirements.
Workshop 2 - Walking – there’s an App for that
Leaders: Paul Sandham, MD Goesho and Hazel Brown, Powys County Council
Geosho received support from the Digital Tourism Business Framework (DTBf) programme to develop a platform for
organisations and event organisers to develop and promote their own walking trails. Paul and Hazel will discuss the
relative merits of apps and mobile friendly websites and present a case study, (including lessons learnt) on the new
Trails Mid Wales smartphone app which was developed in partnership with Powys County Council, and which is due
to be launched at Crickhowell Walking Festival on 10 March.
This workshop is aimed primarily at the following:
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Walking and events organisers
Walking groups with a view to increasing their knowledge of new technology
Businesses wishing to promote walking through apps
Workshop 3 Incorporating walking within events
Leader: Louise McGuiness,Festivals and Events Co-ordinator, advent MCC
You don’t have to be running a walking festival in order to incorporate walks within your event.
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The benefits of widening your event by adding walks?
The health and safety implications of incorporating walks into your event
Ideas for working in Partnership to maximise uptake
Sharing good practise in marketing and promotion and developing data bases to increase ticket sales
14.00 – 15.00 Breakout Workshop Sessions
Workshop 4 - Integrating and marketing sustainable transport and tourism
Leader: Professor Les Lumsdon, University of Central Lancashire
Les is Professor of Tourism at the University of Central Lancashire Institute of Transport and Tourism and the
Outdoors. He has extensive professional experience in the development and marketing of sustainable tourism
projects across Europe.
This workshop is aimed primarily at accommodation and walk service providers. It will look at:
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Types of sustainable transport
Linking service and transport provision more effectively
Packaging and marketing your sustainable transport opportunities
This will be an interactive session with opportunities for organisations, walk providers and businesses to
look at the promotion of sustainable transport
Workshop 5 – Marketing to Walkers
Leader: Steve Green, Bowles Green Ltd, York
This workshop is aimed primarily at tourism businesses who want to attract walkers. It will look at
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What types of walkers come to Monmouthshire and what are their key needs?
What kinds of walks are people looking for and what information do they need?
What can businesses do provide to attract walkers?
What are the best ways to promote walking?
Workshop 6 - Marketing Outstanding Natural Beauty
Leader: Andrew Blake, Wye Valley AONB Officer
Andrew is lead officer for the Wye Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty (AONB)
This workshop is aimed primarily at walking festivals and events organisers, accommodation providers and
tourism officers
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The benefits of using a recognised designation in marketing and promotion
Background to the AONB
Identifying the special qualities of the Wye Valley AONB
Working together with the Wye Valley AONB Unit
Opportunities for promotion and partnership working in walking services and tourism